MULTAN:
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that since politics moved from the hands of religious scholars to the hands of politicians, bloodshed and unrest have persisted.
He lamented that the political-religious party had faced negative reactions because it refused to incite division and conflict among the population.
Addressing a gathering in Multan, the cleric and politician said since the reins of politics were handed over to non-religious leaders, chaos and divisions have followed.
“From the 19th century to the mid-20th century, when the leadership of Muslims in the subcontinent was in the hands of religious scholars, there was not a single instance of conflict arising from sectarian issues like the Deobandi-Barelvi differences “, he recalled. .
“There were no unrest, no infighting. Under their leadership, there was complete peace and unity within the Muslim Ummah,” he said.
He compared it to the current political landscape, saying: “Since politics fell into the hands of politicians after scholars, bloodshed and unrest have plagued us. This policy has bred hatred, discord and conflict. »
“We are criticized because we do not pit people against each other. We have never abandoned our identity as Sunnis, Hanafi or Deobandis, but we engage with the public to foster unity and humanity.”
“Others, however, have turned these identities into mere brands,” he said, lamenting how some religious groups now resort to insulting other sects and stage-raising , then calling it a great service. “This is not the way of our elders.”
